Footwear with removable heating elements

ABSTRACT

Footwear with a removable heating element provides a pocket above the toes and below the laces to keep a removable heated gel pack. The footwear is intended for use during severe winter weather but provides only a light degree of insulation, relying on a replaceable exothermic gel pack above the toes to generate heat. The gel pack is provided in a pocket above the toes and below the laces, which is preferably secured by a descending flap with a hook-and-loop fastener strip, extending downward to the upper edge of the sole. A replacement gel pack is available separately.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/199,293, filed Jul. 31, 2015, which is hereby incorporated byreference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to footwear and accessories, and inparticular to footwear with a removable heating element. For millions ofpeople whose employment duties keep them outdoors in severe winterweather, or who must commute in such weather, keeping the feet warm is achallenge. Various types of insulating footwear have been developed, butthese are bulky and heavy. Aside from the loss of agility, such heavyfootwear usually lead to serious problems of fatigue and muscle sorenessfor the wearer. Footwear with a removable heating element, providing apocket above the toes with a replaceable exothermic gel pack to generateheat, are substantially lighter than conventional insulated footwear andwould resolve this problem.

A search of the prior art has revealed several examples of footwearwhich have problems to which this invention is a solution. For example,U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,016 provides a pocket which is removably attached tothe laces of a shoe. This provides a user with a place to store variousitems, such as change, cash, keys, etc. but does not provide a spaceover the toes in which a heating element can be stored.

Similarly, US Publication No. 2014/0310996 provides a pocket on the sideof a boot which allows the user to store scent wicks while hunting.Again this provides a pocket but not in a place where the user caneffectively keep their feet warm. Further, this example does not providea pocket which could effectively hold a heating element.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,080 provides an attachment which allows auser to secure heating elements to the exterior of the shoe. Again, thisdoes not allow efficient heating of the users feet because the heatingelements are attached separately from the shoe and would have to heatthe exterior of the shoe before the interior, where the feet arelocated, can be heated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to footwear with a removableheating element. The footwear is intended for use during severe winterweather but provides only a light degree of insulation, relying on areplaceable exothermic gel pack above the toes to generate heat. The gelpack is provided in a pocket above the toes and below the laces, whichis preferably secured by a descending flap with a hook-and-loop fastenerstrip, extending downward to the upper edge of the sole. A replacementgel pack is available separately.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theforegoing general description and the following detailed description areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitutea part of the specification. They illustrate one embodiment of theinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment,displaying the footwear 10, the toe area 11, the laces 12, and the sole13.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the first exemplary embodimentwith the pocket opened, displaying the footwear 10, the sole 13, theflap 14, and the gel pack 15.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the gel pack 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directedto footwear 10 with a removable heating element.

The first exemplary embodiment is comprised of footwear 10 which isintended for use during severe winter weather, but provides only a lightdegree of insulation, relying on a replaceable exothermic gel pack 15 togenerate heat. The gel pack 15 is provided in a pocket 17 above the toearea 11 and below the laces 12, which is preferably hidden under a flap14. The flap 14 is secured shut with a fastener 16. The fastener 16 ispreferably a hook-and-loop fastener strip. Preferably, the flap 14extends downward to the upper edge of the sole 13 at the toe end 18 ofthe footwear 10. Alternately, the flap 14 may be secured with a zipper,snaps or some other type of fastener.

A replacement gel pack 15 is available separately, and is preferablyprovided in a package containing an even-numbered plurality of gel packs15, such as eight gel packs 15. The gel pack 15 is carefully contouredto wrap around the upper surface of the user's foot and toes, providingmaximum comfort and distribution of heat within the footwear 10.

The footwear 10 is provided as either a shoe or a boot, in a broad rangeof styles and colors, and a full range of men's, women's, and children'ssizes. Due to the reliance on an exothermic chemical reaction ratherthan heavy insulation, the footwear 10 are not bulky and may provide anelement of fashion despite being intended for use in severe winterweather. Preferably, the principal styles include a general purpose workboot for men and women, dress shoes for men and women, ski boots for menand women, and athletic shoes for men, women, and children.

To use the first exemplary embodiment, the user may shake or otherwiseagitate the gel pack 15 to activate the exothermic reaction, insert thegel pack 15 into the pocket 17, secure the flap 14 using thehook-and-loop fastener strips 16 or other fasteners which are provided,and put on the footwear 10. When the exothermic reaction is finished andthe footwear 10 lose a substantial amount of heat, the user's toes willbecome cold, indicating that the gel pack 15 should be replaced.

The footwear 10 is preferably manufactured from flexible, durablematerial which is substantially waterproof, such as nylon fabric orleather. The laces 12 are preferably manufactured from a flexible,durable material, such as rawhide, woven cotton fiber, or woven hempfiber. The sole 13 is preferably manufactured from a flexible, durablematerial which is substantially waterproof, such as rubber.

The gel pack 15 is preferably manufactured from a flexible, durablematerial such as plastic, containing an exothermic gel-formingcomposition with efficient and long-lasting heat production. Thecomposition is preferably manufactured from galvanic alloy particlessuch as magnesium and iron, in a mixture of between 2-20% by weight ironand 80-98% by weight magnesium, microencapsulated within a superabsorbent polymer in a ratio between 5:1 and 20:1, such as hydroxypropylmethylcellulose or sodium polyacrylamide, and an electrolyte such aspotassium chloride, sodium chloride or calcium chloride.

Components, component sizes, and materials listed above are preferable,but artisans will recognize that alternate components and materialscould be selected without altering the scope of the invention.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one ofordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be thebest mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understandand appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, andequivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. Theinvention should, therefore, not be limited by the above describedembodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methodswithin the scope and spirit of the invention.

I claim:
 1. Footwear with a removable heating element, comprising: anarticle of footwear; a removable heating element; said article offootwear providing a toe end, a sole, laces, and a flap; a pocket beinglocated at said toe end of said footwear above the toe area; said flaphiding said pocket; said removable heating element being sized andconfigured to fit within said pocket; and said flap being secured shutwith a fastener.
 2. The footwear with a removable heating element ofclaim 1, wherein said article of footwear is a shoe.
 3. The footwearwith a removable heating element of claim 1, wherein said article offootwear is a boot.
 4. The footwear with a removable heating element ofclaim 1, wherein said fastener is a hook-and-loop strip.
 5. The footwearwith a removable heating element of claim 1, wherein said fastener is azipper.
 6. The footwear with a removable heating element of claim 1,wherein said fastener is snaps.
 7. The footwear with a removable heatingelement of claim 2, wherein said fastener is a hook-and-loop strip. 8.The footwear with a removable heating element of claim 2, wherein saidfastener is a zipper.
 9. The footwear with a removable heating elementof claim 2, wherein said fastener is snaps.
 10. The footwear with aremovable heating element of claim 3, wherein said fastener is ahook-and-loop strip.
 11. The footwear with a removable heating elementof claim 3, wherein said fastener is a zipper.
 12. The footwear with aremovable heating element of claim 3, wherein said fastener is snaps.13. The footwear with a removable heating element of claim 1, whereinsaid heating element provides a flexible plastic shell containing anexothermic gel-forming composition.
 14. The footwear with a removableheating element of claim 13, wherein said exothermic gel-formingcomposition is galvanic alloy particles such as magnesium and iron; saidiron amounts to between two to twenty percent by weight; said magnesiumamounts to eighty to ninety-eight percent by weight; said galvanic alloyparticles microencapsulated within a super absorbent polymer such ashydroxypropyl methylcellulose or sodium polyacrylamide, and anelectrolyte such as potassium chloride, sodium chloride or calciumchloride; said galvanic alloy particles being in a ratio to said superabsorbent polymer of between five to one and twenty to one.
 15. Thefootwear with a removable heating element of claim 2, wherein saidheating element provides a flexible plastic shell containing anexothermic gel-forming composition.
 16. The footwear with a removableheating element of claim 15, wherein said exothermic gel-formingcomposition is galvanic alloy particles such as magnesium and iron; saidiron amounts to between two to twenty percent by weight; said magnesiumamounts to eighty to ninety-eight percent by weight; said galvanic alloyparticles microencapsulated within a super absorbent polymer such ashydroxypropyl methylcellulose or sodium polyacrylamide, and anelectrolyte such as potassium chloride, sodium chloride or calciumchloride; said galvanic alloy particles being in a ratio to said superabsorbent polymer of between five to one and twenty to one.
 17. Thefootwear with a removable heating element of claim 3, wherein saidheating element provides a flexible plastic shell containing anexothermic gel-forming composition.
 18. The footwear with a removableheating element of claim 17, wherein said exothermic gel-formingcomposition is galvanic alloy particles such as magnesium and iron; saidiron amounts to between two to twenty percent by weight; said magnesiumamounts to eighty to ninety-eight percent by weight; said galvanic alloyparticles microencapsulated within a super absorbent polymer such ashydroxypropyl methylcellulose or sodium polyacrylamide, and anelectrolyte such as potassium chloride, sodium chloride or calciumchloride; said galvanic alloy particles being in a ratio to said superabsorbent polymer of between five to one and twenty to one.